There is no admission to enter the cave, however, $2 is requested for parking, which compensates the parking crew.

Photo courtesy of Roger Roppel

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that can only mean one thing — the festivities of Christmas are about to hit warp speed.

With Black Friday shopping and lighting deals becoming synonymous with the holiday season, the true spirit of Christmas can often get overshadowed.

However, there is reprieve for anyone who wants to celebrate the birth of Christ during this holiday season. For the second consecutive year, The Christmas Cave: A Christmas Light Spectacular, will take place at the White Gravel Mines in Minford.

“It is so humbling to be part of such a great family oriented attraction for our area,” Chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners and Co-Founder Bryan Davis said. “Our friends, Tom and Mindy Martin, and my wife Lori (Davis) and I, and all our friends that do so much to help fund and make this a reality, they do all this hard work to highlight what Christmas is really all about.”

Lori Davis, co-founder, recalls several inspirational stories. According to Lori, a pastor’s wife from Morehead, Kentucky, said the cross reflecting on the Mine’s water was the most simple, yet powerful thing she’s ever seen.

During its inaugural year, a young boy exited the cave, looked at his grandmother and said “I’ll never be the same again.”

“For me personally, when we were planning around the table with our team and then later creating the actual scenes, that was a very exciting time knowing the event was coming alive,” Lori said. “But when The Christmas Cave opened and I saw mommies and daddies squat down to their child’s level and point to the scenes and describe things, I remember having my first tear fall watching that and thinking, this was what all the hard work was about. Christmas is alive and well.”

The Christmas Cave is a self-guided light display in the underground mines. The attraction consists of 16 Biblical Scenes, three Nativity exhibits, two traditional tunnels of lights, outdoor displays, photo hot spots and commemorative items.

“We invite everyone to load their family and friends into their car and come enjoy an evening at the Christmas Cave,” Bryan said. “It’s a self-guided tour through the mines and the adjacent surrounding woods.”

There is no admission to enter the cave, however, $2 is requested for parking, which compensates the parking crew. The Christmas Cave will open Black Friday and runs through Dec. 30, operating every Friday and Saturday from 4-10 p.m.

“This is a walking tour but we will do all we can do to accommodate those with disabilities,” Bryan said. “We want everyone to see the Christmas Cave.”

There is no admission to enter the cave, however, $2 is requested for parking, which compensates the parking crew.

http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2017/11/web1_rsz_the_christmas_cave_2016_17.jpgThere is no admission to enter the cave, however, $2 is requested for parking, which compensates the parking crew. Photo courtesy of Roger Roppel